GNR Scraps South Africa Shows Due To Injury

South Africa's biggest outdoor rock event of 2007 has been left without a major headlining act after Guns N' Roses pulled out of My Coke Fest due to an injury suffered by bassist Tommy Stinson. The group's planned appearances in Johannesburg on April 27 and Cape Town on May 1 were billed as the start of a world tour.

"Stinson recently sprained his left wrist in a fall and the injury has not yet healed. As a result, Guns N' Roses will not make their two scheduled performances at My Coke Fest in South Africa at the end of the month," reads a statement from promoter Big Concerts. Several others shows in Japan have been postponed indefinitely as well.

Organizers have promised a full refund for Guns N' Roses fans who no longer want to attend the events. My Coke Fest is the 2007 incarnation of last year's March Coca-Cola Collab Massive Mix, which was headlined by Metallica.

The 12-hour show is billed as South Africa's biggest rock event and is going ahead with international acts Hoobastank, Staind, 3 Doors Down and Evanescence. Local support includes the Springbok Nude Girls and the Parlotones.

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Rap-A-Lot Records' Owner J. Prince In Court Over Alleged Assault Case

In a lawsuit filed at April 12 in Harris County state district court, Ronald "Ronnie" Bookman owner of 7303 Records and Studio 7303 claims he was savagely beaten in an assault allegedly ordered by Rap-A-Lot Records owner J. Prince.

The lawsuit alleges breach of contract on the part of J. Prince (born James Prince), battery, unfair competition, duress, conspiracy and unjust enrichment. Bookman is also seeking a court order barring Prince and his business associates of coming within 500 feet of his home and business.

In the suit, Prince is accused of allegedly directing a half-dozen men to attack Bookman at a Houston recreation center owned by Prince on January 25 of this year. Bookman claims that the beating was an alleged attempt to put him and his 7303 Records imprint out of business. Bookman's Studio 7303's client list has included several major hip-hop artists including 50 Cent, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliot.

Bookman's claim that he was lured to a gym after he was advised that Prince wanted to "make things right" regarding a dispute between the two men. According to the suit, the disagreement arose when Prince, who had allegedly agreed in 2005 to allow UGK member Bun B to record on 7303 recording artist JV's release Rap or Die and allegedly reneged on the agreement, failing to release the Bun B feature.

Bookman alleges that when he arrived at the gym, he was led to a weight room where he met with Prince. Prince then directed several men to enter the room and assault Bookman. He alleges that he suffered severe head trauma, a broken nose and injuries to both eyes. He was reportedly treated the next day at the ParkPlazaHospital emergency room in Houston, TX and alleges that he is still receiving treatment for his injuries.

"This was a vicious act of intimidation, plain and simple," says John B. Thomas, lead counsel for Bookman and a partner in Houston 's Hicks Thomas & Lilienstern, LLP. "We believe Mr. Prince's plan was to eliminate competition in the Houston Rap and Hip-Hop music business through the use of threats, intimidation and violence. We believe that Mr. Prince feared that his influence and financial well- being would suffer if Mr. Bookman and 7303 Records were successful."

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Beatles Settle Royalty Dispute With EMI

Apple Corps, the Beatles' company, has settled its £30 million ($59.2 million) royalties dispute with the band's label, EMI.

EMI would not disclose details of the settlement, which was reached last month. An EMI spokesperson tells Billboard.com, "I can confirm that we have reached a mutually acceptable settlement and that we are not going to say anything more than that."

Apple Corps launched its latest legal action in December 2005 at the High Court in London and New York's Supreme Court, against EMI and Capitol, respectively. The writ alleged unpaid royalties on Beatles albums based on an audit of sales between 1994 and 1999, a period which included the release of three "Anthology" compilations.

The latest settlement between Apple Corps and EMI follows a deal struck in February between Apple Corps and Apple Computer over the use of the Apple name.

That removed a major obstacle for Beatles tracks to appear on iTunes. Earlier this month, EMI chief executive, Eric Nicoli, confirmed the major was working on making the Beatles catalog available for legal download for the first time.

Apple Corps was created by the Beatles in 1968. The band's recordings are released under license by EMI. This week, the Beatles London-based company announced that CEO Neil Aspinall, who had worked with the Beatles for more than 45 years, had exited and was being replaced by Sony BMG executive Jeff Jones.

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Fabolous Bumps Album Again, Preps New Single

Fabolous has once again reset the release date for his Def Jam debut, "From Nothin' To Somethin'." The album is now due June 12. It was originally expected before the end of 2006, then pushed to February and most recently to March 27.

In the interim, the Brooklyn rapper will service his second single, "Make Me Better," produced by Timbaland and featuring labelmate Ne-Yo, to radio this week.

"From Nothin' To Somethin'" also features production from Just Blaze, Jermaine Dupri, Polow Da Don, Jazze Pha, and Steve Morales. Rihanna, Akon, Swizz Beatz and Lloyd make guest appearances.

First single "Diamonds" featuring Young Jeezy is No. 3 on Bilboard's Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart and debuts this week at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Fabolous was previously signed to Elektra and Atlantic. He hasn't released a new studio album since 2004's "Real Talk," which debuted at No. 6 on The Billboard 200 and spawned the hit single "Breathe." The track reached No. 2 on Hot Rap Tracks and No. 10 on the Hot 100.

Since then, he's turned up as a guest on albums from Jennifer Lopez, Syleena Johnson, Christina Milian, Tony Parker and DJ Clue.

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Bullet For My Valentine In The Thick Of New Album

Fans attending Bullet For My Valentine's current North American dates will hear a new song, "Scream, Aim and Fire." And guitarist Michael Padget says there's more where that came from.

The Welsh rockers recorded 11 songs for the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2005's "The Poison" in January and February with producer Colin Richardson at Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso, Texas. Frontman Matt Tuck is slated to finish his vocals after the group comes off the road in May, with a hoped-for release this fall.

"It's definitely a heavier progression than 'The Poison,'" Padget tells Billboard.com. "There's a lot more guitar work, as in solos and classic guitar parts. The drum work is a lot more upbeat. It's just a forward progression of Bullet -- heavier, upbeat, better."

Padget says the group drew inspiration for the new album from "'80s bands" -- none specifically but more, he explains, "just vibes from that time. You watch movies on TV, the old ones with the 80's soundtracks and stuff -- it really gets us off," Padget says. "We're trying to sound older -- more '80s than 2000, I guess."

Fans will also hear some political commentary in "Scream, Aim and Fire," which Padget says is "about war on the front lines," and he expects Tuck to have even more topical lyrics in the other songs.

Bullet is planning only a bit of down time, however, with tours of Europe, Japan and Australia set for the late spring, summer and early fall before the new album is released. The group is currently promoting a new single, "All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)," from "The Poison," but Padget thinks the album is nearing the end of its cycle.

"I think deep down inside we're all kind of getting a little bored of playing [those] songs live," he acknowledges. "We still like the album, but we just want to start playing some new stuff."

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